Tips For Maximizing Your Time Off During The Holiday Season
By Darius Harris, Stride Career Prep Success Coach
As we’ve now entered the month of December, and the festive Christmas and New Year Season, we all tend to get excited about the holiday break, which usually includes time off from work and school. For students, this normally means a few weeks off from school, to enjoy time with family and time for themselves. Even though the holiday break is geared for rest and relaxation, there are still some things within that paradigm that students should avoid. Below, I will discuss some of the ways not to spend your time during the winter break…
Don’t Spend All Your Time Doing School Work
As mentioned above, the winter break it a good time to step away from school activities and recharge your proverbial battery. That said, don’t spend all your time engaged in school-related activities, unless those activities are fun for you. For example, if you enjoy working on math problems and challenging yourself, then it would be okay to spend some time working on this. However, if you have been feeling like you really need a break, don’t spend all of your holiday break on schoolwork, because once you return, you’ll more than likely experience burnout.
Don’t Stay In A Room Alone For The Whole Break
If you are anything like me, you enjoy having time to yourself, whenever you can get it. But, spending the entire break alone can leave you feeling isolated, as well. As humans, we all need some interaction with people, so carve out some time to spend with friends and family that you may not get to see regularly. You don’t have to meet in person. You can choose to set-up a meeting via zoom, and it could be all you need to connect with the people who know you best. Also, find some time to get out of the house. If you live in a cold weather state, then wanting to stay in the warm cozy house every day can be appealing. However, it’s beneficial to find some time to get out of the house, even if it’s just to go for a ride in your car, around your neighborhood. A change of scenery and some daylight can do a world of good.
Don’t Get Away From Healthy Routines
The holiday break can promote unhealthy habits, like eating poorly, skipping normal exercise routines, and sleeping all day. Some people really want to “take a break” from everything, including things they know will keep them in good health. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a meal you haven’t had in a while. However, don’t get into a routine, during this time, of sleeping all day and forgoing your normal healthy activities. Once you shy away from these things, it can be hard to get back to a healthy routine and overall lifestyle. I guess it goes without saying that students should always avoid using drugs or being around illegal activities.
Don’t Party Every Day
Holiday breaks can be a good time to just have fun and catch-up with family and friends. Some people will take this to the extreme though, and they will spend all their time partying. This can certainly throw you off your normal schedule, especially if you are out all night. Once school starts back up, students who party the whole time while away will probably be tired, and not ready to get back into the groove related to schoolwork.
So, there you have it. Be sure to use your break to have fun and relax, and to recharge your batteries. But, be careful not to get involved in unhealthy activities, like skipping exercise, using drugs, eating lots of unhealthy foods, or partying every day. Try to make some time to at least speak to one person you have not seen or spoken to in a while, to maintain those important connections, too.
If you are uncertain about future career choices and feel like you need help in Finding Your Path after all of the holiday fun is done, then career success coaching may be for you!
To learn more about Stride Career Prep Success Coaching for teens and what it offers, be sure to visit this site: https://www.stridelearning.com/career-prep/career-exploration/student-success-coaching.html